“I know,” I said.

“But I have to buy us time.”

I stood up and looked at Daniel.

“Stay here with them,” I said.

“If you hear shooting, take them down the shaft.”

“Don’t wait for me.”

“Adrian, no,” Nora said, stepping forward.

“You can’t go up there alone.”

“I have to,” I said.

“I need to see what Caleb is doing.”

I checked my pistol.

The weight of the cold steel in my hand was comforting.

I slipped it back into my holster.

I walked to the heavy vault door and pulled it open.

The concrete corridor stretched out ahead of me, lit by single, bare bulbs.

I stepped out into the chill.

The air smelled of old mortar and dust.

I walked quietly down the passage toward the stairs.

Every step felt heavy.

Seventeen years of trust had ended in this cold basement.

I reached the foot of the stairs.

The wooden steps groaned slightly as I put my weight on them.

I climbed slowly, keeping my back to the wall.

At the top of the stairs, the door to the pantry was cracked open.